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ashleyclarke

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  1. Yes I'm not so much worried about the process of getting a nice looking website. I know there are a few options out there to get one built which looks the part. What I'm really wanting is to get a range of views on whether having a nice website which actually comes up in google is likely to generate much in terms of sales from people finding me online. Devin, you seem to think not, which is fair enough. Just wondering what the broader view on it is. If the consensus is that it just serves as part of the overall branding and a place to put your online portfolio then I don't need to spend too much money on a new site. But I'm prepared to spend a a decent amount on one, along with monthly fee's for ad words and SEO work if its going to lead to new business.
  2. I've been a bit lazy over the last year or so, mainly relying on existing clients for work but I know one can't do this forever and if I don't start actively gaining new business then things will eventually dry up. Now I'm not much of a salesman so I find it difficult building up client networks etc which is why I'm thinking I need to invest in a proper website. I do have a website already of course but its just a free site with basic do it your self edibility. However it's not professional and it certainly isn't getting seen very much and for as long as it's been up I don't think I've ever gotten a enquiry through it. It's mainly just a place to stick an online portfolio and somewhere I can direct people to look at it. So I've been thinking, should I go all out on an all singing all dancing professionally made website and pay some decent money to get it SEO'd and have proper ad words camping's and all the rest of it. The goal being to have a website that is being regularly found by prospective new clients, presents a much more professional image for my business and hopefully leads to new work in the future, which will more than cover the investment costs in the site. What are people's views on this? Has anyone done similar? and if so what was the result? I just want to know if it's worth it really.
  3. Thanks guys, Sounds like it's okay to go ahead with then.
  4. I keep getting pestered by Microsoft to upgrade to Widows 10. Now I'm all for a new operating system but before I do I want to know for sure if it's going to work with all my main programs and plugin's etc. I don't want to install the free upgrade only to screw my whole system and have to invest in a load of new software. I'm currently on windows 7 and use Max 2014, Vray3, Adobe CS6 and mudbox 2014. Am I going to be okay?
  5. I've had a play with using a mix map with noise as the mask, seems promising, thanks.
  6. I'm in the later stages of completing a model of small housing development which covers around 6 acres. The problem is there are large areas of flat grass around the houses across the site, I'm talking like football pitch sized fields and they want some aerial style shots showing the whole site. I'm currently using an areal shot of a field what I've made tillable but it's not that great. Even worse is the gravel, large areas like roads, open areas and drive ways are gravel and my texture there tiles really badly whatever I do. What solutions do you guys use for this? Do you think it's realistic to use forest pack grass over areas this large?
  7. Thanks for the feedback guys. To answer a few comments. Contrast wise - Yes I did actually wash out the main building a little as it just looked a little too CG, but you'er right I should have also done the guy with the dog to get things matching. The sidewalk (or pavement as we say in the UK) is asphalt so that's okay. I know what you mean with the shop sign but I was told to just make it generic text for now but yes, probably centre would be better. I wasn't sure how to play the inside, there is reflection in there and I can increase it in post but didn't want it looking like a mirror. There are lights internally but it's always going to look dark compared to daylight. Admittedly I didn't consult much reference on this so that's something to look at in the future. And Tom, I agree completely about it being cramped but there was good reason for this. The building to the left has a complex mixed stone finish and I had no photography to sit it in. So decided to cut it out as much as possible. I suppose I could have maybe just done it in simple grey for a better composition but I'm not sure the client was ready for that yet.
  8. Studio/Institution: Ac- Visual Genre: Retail Exterior Software: 3DS Max, Vray, photoshop Website: http://www.acvisual.co.uk Description: Hi, I've just completed a project for a client which is a front and 3 quarter view renders of a building they are developing. It'll be a Fish and Chip shop downstairs with apartments above. They are happy with the above render and I'm sending higher resolution copies over on Monday morning so all is well. Although they are happy to pay for it, which is great. I'd like to improve the quality of my work for future projects. Now I know it's not exactly some flashy modern sky scraper or architectural work of art so it's impressiveness in this case is limited but I feel it could definitely be improved. What would you do differently / better?
  9. Well It's done, I sent the quote off this lunch time so I guess I'll just see what happens. I decided in the end to price a bit higher overall and took a closer look at each property adding more on houses if it looked like they could be a bit more work than others. Scott, you're probably right, aim high, negotiate lower if need be. I earn enough from my little side line in climbing wall design / viz for a regular client to pay my bills so anything I get from this is a bonus.
  10. I'd love to double it, I'm just not sure I can justify charging that much or how'd they react to it. They know I'm a fairly new business and they are a relatively small developer themselves and not based in London, in fact far from it, off in the wilds of the rural north so things are a bit cheaper around here. I do think there is an element of me not being brave enough to step up and demand large sums for what I do, maybe that confidence will come once I've a few client behind me, I hope so. To put the figures in some perspective though, around here double that fee (£9000) would be more than 50% of a lot of peoples annul wage before tax. I will have a good think about it and see what happens, I don't want to be kicking myself because I've massively under charged but equally don't want to miss out on a great job for the sake of being greedy.
  11. For the time span, Yes I feel about 2 days per house average will be enough, as I said once I've got the first one done, the others are just variations of that and I'll be able to use many of the same asserts and materials again in the remaining buildings. Although when I'm quoting time frames I'm quoting my time, as in what I'll charge for. If I have to wait days to get info and feedback through that will be additional.
  12. I know this subject has been somewhat done to death but I've just been asked to quote for my first large project and I don't want to blow it by pricing too high or equally under value my work. The project requires 15 external renders, each of a different house on a proposed new development. They range in type and size but are all of similar levels of complexly. Although different, they are all of the same style and therefore I'll be able to use many of the elements again, such as doors, windows, balcony's, guttering and the materials are mostly the same too. I will however have to model significant areas of the site, such as roads, pavements, gardens etc which may be visible in shot. Quality-wise, I confess I'm no Bertrand Benoit but they have contacted me based on some sample work I sent out to a range of developers a few weeks ago, so they have seen the quality levels I can offer and are seemingly impressed. Along with the project outlines they sent some examples of work they have had done previously and mine is a significant improvement on that. I just hope they are willing to accept that this will likely take longer and cost them more than with whoever they used before. Which brings me to the issue of what to quote them. Based on an estimate of time per house, factoring in being able to re-use elements but also considering added time spent on the site layout and external elements (garden walls, greenery, cars etc) I reckon about £300 ($490 USD) each. So about £4500 ($7,330 USD) for the lot. In terms of time, it'll be quite full on (I'm on my own) but I'd say a month to be safe. Those of you based in the UK might have a better idea on how reasonable those costs sound but are there any other factors I should consider? Costs for changes, additional renders etc. Also I have to bear in mind, that I'm just starting out, (did my first paid project 2 weeks ago) and it would be a huge boost to have a project like this under my belt. Any input would be welcome Thanks.
  13. Yes I was thinking that it could well be that they use simple visuals for a reason and that is because it's quick and gives an impression of the design rather than pinning everything down from the off. Which is why I asked if many people get work from architects, because for the level of model they tend to produce they don't really need to hire in a specialist as there will usually be someone in house with the basic skills required. For where I live (quite a rural area with only a couple of larger towns) I think my best bet is going to be targeting developers as quite a few nice, small developments go up and by the marketing stage do seem to use nice visuals.
  14. Do many of you who are self employed/ Freelance get much visualisation work from architects? I'm fairly new to the game so have been sending out sample work to a selection of local architects, mainly small firms with a 2-10 staff. But the feedback I'm getting is thanks, but we do our visuals in house and we're happy with them. But when they say visuals, what they mean is really basic Sketch Up models. Now, are they just behind the times and need convincing that better renders will help them communicate their ideas better to clients. Or is it me shooting at the wrong target? Having looked at some of the local property development firms though I have found they do use the kind of visuals I produce so seem a much better target for my marketing. I'm just wondering if I've missed something with regards to architectural firms?
  15. You have a nice clean render but as has been said, it's very flat. You've got a large window open to the outside but there is no light coming though it. In real life that would be the main and possibly sole light source in the room. Use a Vray sun or direct light and have it set up to shine through the window and see how you go from there.
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